When should I stop feeding hummingbirds in Colorado?

Q: When should I stop feeding hummingbirds in Colorado? Should I take my feeder down in September so I don't keep them from migrating?

A: Absolutely not! That's a common gardening myth. In Colorado, keep your hummingbird feeders filled through late September and into early October. Migration varies from year to year, and those late-season hummingbirds need plenty of energy for their long trip south.  And while you're at it, keep that feeder clean and the nectar fresh. Use four cups water to one cup white sugar—and skip the red food coloring.

And don't worry about your feeder keeping them here too long. Hummingbirds don't delay migration because there's a feeder available. Their migration is triggered primarily by changes in daylight, weather and natural food sources. My rule of thumb is simple: keep your feeder up until you've gone about two weeks without seeing a hummingbird. Better yet, plant more salvias, agastaches and other hummer plants for natural nectar.

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Read our Q & As with Keith Funk answering common Colorado gardening questions here. See his website: gardenwiseguy.com and hear him on the Garden Wise Radio Show